Chapter Fifth.
"Walk Boldly and wisely in that light thou hast. There is a hand above will help thee on." --Birley's Festus.
"Well, my dear, what do you think of her?" asked Mr. Dinsmore,addressing his wife.
Mildred had just left the room to don bonnet and shawl preparatory to ashopping expedition. She and her uncle had arrived in Philadelphia latethe previous night, and Mrs. Dinsmore and the children having alreadyretired, Mildred's first sight of them had been at the breakfasttable this morning;--the meal being partaken of in the private parlorbelonging to the suite of apartments the Dinsmores were occupying inone of the best hotels of the city.
"I am agreeably disappointed, I must confess," Mrs. Dinsmore replied toher husband's query. "She is decidedly pretty and extremely ladylikein manner and appearance. Even her dress,--though not quite in thefashion--bespeaks her a person of taste and refinement. In fact I thinkI shall enjoy playing chaperone to her and introducing her to ourfriends at the South."
"Ah, I thought you could not fail to be pleased with her," Mr. Dinsmoresaid, looking much gratified, "and I knew you were when you bade hercall you aunt. I imagine she had been a little troubled to decide justhow she was to address you."
"Well, since I find she is not the sort one need feel ashamed of, I'veno objection to her claiming relationship, though there is none at allin point of fact; but if she had proved the awkward, ungainly, uncouthgirl I expected, I should have requested her to call me Mrs. Dinsmore,"remarked that lady languidly. "I wonder if she has much shopping to do?I hope not, for I really do not feel equal to the exertion of assistingher."
"Driving about in a carriage and sitting in the stores; I should notthink it need be so very fatiguing," remarked her husband.
"Of course not, Mr. Dinsmore; men never do see why anything shouldfatigue their wives," she retorted with some petulance.
"Then Miss Worth and I will have to manage it between us. You expecther to-day, do you not?"
"She was to come to-day; but of course she won't. People never do asthey promise. The fact is she oughtn't to have gone at all, leaving mehere alone with servants and children; so selfish and inconsiderate!"
"But, my dear, it would have been very hard for her to go back withouthaving spent a short time with her family."
"And her pleasure is to be considered before my comfort, of course."
"Really, I had hoped your comfort had not been neglected," Mr. Dinsmoresaid, in a tone of some irritation, as he glanced from the richlyattired figure in the easy chair, opposite his own, to the luxuriousappointments of the room; "what more can you wish?"
The entrance of Mrs. Dinsmore's maid, bringing her bonnet and shawl,saved the lady the necessity of replying to the somewhat inconvenientquery, and her husband turned to the morning paper.
Then Mildred came in.
Mrs. Dinsmore, standing before the pier glass, saw the girl's figurereflected there, and the latter could not help enjoying her start ofsurprise.
"What an elegant shawl!" she exclaimed, turning hastily about to takea better view, "real India! You needn't be ashamed to show yourselfanywhere in that! Though your bonnet is quite out of date, as youwarned me," she added by way of preventing too great elation from herpraise of the shawl.
"No matter," interposed Mr. Dinsmore, throwing down his paper, "we'llsoon set that right. The carriage is waiting. Are any of the childrengoing?"
"Yes, Adelaide, Louise and Lora. Mammy and Fanny have taken the youngerones out."
The three little girls came in at the moment. They were gayly andexpensively dressed, in the height of the fashion. They lookedcuriously at Mildred, then Louise, the second in age, a child of ten,whispered to her mother,
"What a fright of a bonnet, it's not in the style at all, and I don'twant her along if she's going to wear that."
"Hush! it's no matter," returned the mother in the same low key, "shewon't be seen in the carriage, and we'll drive directly to Mrs. Brown'sand get her a handsome one."
"Oh! what a pretty shawl, cousin," exclaimed Adelaide, "real India,isn't it? Come on, mamma, and all of you," she added, hurrying into thehall, "it's time we were off."
"Adelaide always wants to direct the rest of us," complained Louise, "Iwish, mamma, you'd make her know her place."
"Tut, tut! remember she's three years older than you. But if youchildren are going to quarrel, you must stay behind," said Mr.Dinsmore, standing back to let his wife and Mildred pass out first.
"No, no, papa, that won't do, because we're to be fitted with hats andshoes," laughed the youngest of the three, putting her hand into his,"besides, I didn't quarrel."
"That's true enough, Lora," he answered, leading her down the stairs,"and in fact, I believe no one did but Louise, who is apt to be thecomplainer."
The drive to the milliner's was so short that Mildred thought theymight as well have walked. She would have preferred it as giving hera better opportunity to see the city; but no; in that case she wouldhave had to mortify her friends by an exhibition of her unfashionablehead-gear.
The next half hour was spent in turning over ribbons, flowers andfeathers, discussing styles, and trying on bonnets.
At length one was found which pleased both Mrs. Dinsmore and Mildred,but the price asked seemed to the latter extravagant.
"Do you think I ought to go so high, Aunt?" she asked in an undertone."Is it worth it?"
"I think the price reasonable, and the hat no finer than you ought towear," returned Mrs. Dinsmore coldly.
Mildred, blushing, turned to the saleswoman, saying, "I will take it,"and began counting out the money.
"Stay," said her aunt, "you will want a hat for travelling in."
A plainer and less expensive one was selected for that purpose, thehandsome bonnet put on, the bill paid, and they returned to theircarriage, Mildred feeling pleasantly conscious of her improvedappearance, yet a trifle uneasy at the thought of how fast her moneywas melting away.
Their next visit was to a fashionable shoe store. Mrs. Dinsmore had thechildren and herself fitted with several pairs each, and by her advice,Mildred, too, bought slippers for the house, and heavy walking shoes.
"You must have, besides, a pair of gaiters to match each handsome dressyou buy," Mrs. Dinsmore said to her as they re-entered the carriage.
That announcement filled Mildred with dismay. At this rate her pursewould be emptied before the demands upon it were nearly satisfied. Whatwas she to do? She had been eager to select her dresses, but now wasthankful for the respite afforded her by Mrs. Dinsmore's declarationthat she was too much fatigued for any more shopping, and thattherefore they would return to their hotel.
"I'm going to lie down till it is time to dress for dinner, and wouldadvise you to do the same," she said to Mildred as they re-enteredtheir parlor, and our heroine retreated at once to her own room, gladof the opportunity to think over her perplexity in solitude, and askguidance and help of her best Friend, who, as she rejoiced in knowing,was abundantly able and willing to help her in every time of need.
She cast her burden on Him, then threw herself on the bed, and beingvery weary with her long journey, soon fell asleep.
Two hours later she was roused by a knock at her door. She sprang upand opened it to find a porter there with an armful of brown paperparcels and a note for her.
"Is there not some mistake?" she asked in surprise.
"No, Miss: No. 95, and here's the name on the note and the bundles."
"Why yes, it is my name, sure enough!" she exclaimed. "Well, you maybring them in."
The man laid the packages down and departed, while Mildred, onlywaiting to close the door after him, tore open the note.
"My dear niece," so it ran, "you must please excuse the liberty I havetaken in selecting your dresses for you. Your Aunt Wealthy put somemoney into my hands to be laid out for you. The letter containing herremittance and also one from Roselands which hurries us
home, came tohand a few minutes after you and Mrs. Dinsmore had left the hotel. MissWorth arrived while I was in the act of reading them, and with herassistance I ventured to do your shopping for you. The contents of theparcels sent with this are the result.
"Hoping they may suit your taste, I am your affectionate uncle, A. D."
For some minutes after the note had been hastily read and laid aside,Mildred's fingers were very busy with twine and wrapping paper,bringing to light beautiful and costly things, while her cheeks burnedwith excitement and her eyes danced with delight, or filled with tearsof mingled pleasure and pain.
She could not fail to rejoice in such wealth of lovely things, yet ithurt her pride of independence that she must take them as gifts; andthat from one who was scarcely related to her, for well she knew thatMr. Dinsmore must have paid a large proportion of the price from hisown purse. There were materials for three beautiful evening dresses, asage colored merino, fine and soft, an all wool delaine--royal purplewith an embroidered sprig; also three silks--a black, a dark brown, anda silver grey; each rich and heavy enough to almost stand alone, andthere was a box of kid gloves; one or two pairs to match each dress,the rest white for evening wear. Nor had suitable trimmings for thedresses been forgotten: they were there in beautiful variety--ribbons,buttons, heavy silk fringes; nothing had been overlooked.
Mildred seemed to herself to be in a dream; she could hardly believethat such riches were really hers.
But there came a rap at the door and opening she found Mr. Dinsmorestanding there.
"May I come in?" he asked with grave cheerfulness.
She stepped back silently, her heart too full for speech, and passingin he closed the door.
"My dear child, you will excuse me?" he began, but throwing her armsround his neck she burst into tears.
"O, uncle, you are so kind! but it is too much," she sobbed, hiding herface on his shoulder.
"Nonsense! the merest trifle!" he said, stroking her hair. "But if youdon't like them--"
"Like them!" she cried. "They're just lovely! every one of them, but--"
"No, no! no buts," he said gayly; "if they suit your taste it's allright. The gaiters that Mrs. Dinsmore says are necessary to match thedresses, can be made nearer home and we'll have two days, Friday andSaturday for sight seeing. This is Thursday, and early Monday morningwe leave for Roselands."
"But O, uncle, you shouldn't have spent so much money on me," beganMildred.
"I, child? your Aunt Wealthy you mean. Didn't you read my note?"
"Yes sir; and I know I must thank her for a part, but only a part ofthese beautiful things."
"Dear me, how very wise we are," he said jocosely and chucking herplayfully under the chin; "yet perhaps not quite so wise as we think.Now if you want to do me a favor, just call to mind our talk in thecars the other day, and say no more about this.
"Mrs. Dinsmore and Miss Worth know nothing but that I had money ofyours in my hands and have used it in doing your shopping for you; andit is decidedly my wish that they neither know nor suspect anythingfurther. Will you oblige me by being quiet about it?"
"I would do anything I possibly could to oblige you, Uncle Dinsmore,"she answered, looking into his eyes with hers full of grateful tears.
"Ah, that's my good girl," he said, "Now dry your eyes and we'll godown to dinner. It is to be served for the family in our own parlor,and is probably on the table now."
Dinner was on the table, and as they entered the family were in the actof taking their places about it.
Miss Worth the governess was with them. She was an intelligentlooking, but rather plain featured woman of perhaps thirty-five. Hermanners were unobtrusive, she was very quiet and reserved, seeminglyself-absorbed.
Mildred's first impressions were not too favorable. The thought in thegirl's mind was, "she's a disagreeable old maid, and I'm sure I shallnever like her."
Yet the face, though slightly sad and careworn when at rest, would bymany have been preferred to Mrs. Dinsmore's in its faded beauty, andlistless or fretful and annoyed expression.
The bright, fresh young faces of the children pleased Mildred betterthan either. There were six of them in all; Arthur, Walter, and Ennawere all younger than the three little girls whose acquaintance shehad made in the morning--the last named a mere baby. They were prettychildren and not ill-behaved considering that they had been used to analmost unlimited amount of petting and indulgence.
"Miss Worth has been telling me about your dresses, Mildred," remarkedMrs. Dinsmore, "I hope you will like them; I should think from herdescription, they must be very handsome."
"They are, _very_," Mildred answered, with a vivid blush. "I don'tthink I could possibly have been better suited." And turning to MissWorth, she thanked her warmly for the trouble she had taken in herbehalf.
"It was no trouble, and you are heartily welcome, Miss Keith,"returned the governess, a smile lighting up her features into positivecomeliness.
Mr. Dinsmore changed the subject, by a proposal to take his wife andMildred to some place of amusement for the evening.
"How thoughtless you are, my dear," said Mrs. Dinsmore, "I am sureMildred must be too much fatigued by her journey to think of going out."
"I doubt it," he returned, laughing. "What do you say, Milly?"
"That I don't think I am," she answered brightly, "a two hours' napthis afternoon having refreshed me wonderfully."
"Then we'll go," he said, "there's an opportunity to hear some finemusic, and I don't want to miss it. You will go with us, Mrs. Dinsmore?"
"No," she said coldly, "I do not feel equal to the exertion."
She was not an invalid, but had barely escaped becoming such throughextreme aversion to exercise of body or mind.
Mr. Dinsmore then extended his invitation to Miss Worth, overruled herobjection, that she feared the children would require her attention, bysaying that the servants would give them all the care they needed, andinsisted upon her acceptance, unless she, too, must plead fatigue as anexcuse for declining.
Before the governess had time to open her lips in reply, Mrs. Dinsmoresuddenly announced that she had changed her mind; she would go, andreally she could not feel easy about the children, unless Miss Worthwere there to see that they were properly attended to.
It was a disappointment to the latter, who seldom enjoyed such a treat,but she quietly acquiesced, sighing inwardly, but giving no outwardsign.
"Shall we walk or ride?" queried Mr. Dinsmore, looking at Mildred. "Thedistance is about four squares."
"Oh, let us walk," she was about to exclaim, feeling an eager desirefor the exercise, and to look at the buildings and brightly lightedwindows; but Mrs. Dinsmore decided this question also with an emphatic,
"We will take a carriage of course. What can you be thinking of, Mr.Dinsmore?"
They had left the table and Mildred was considering how she shouldexcuse herself, that she might retire to her own room and finish aletter to her mother, when Mrs. Dinsmore said, "You must show me yourpretty things now, Mildred. There'll be plenty of time before we haveto dress for the concert."
"Dress!" echoed Mildred in dismay, "really Aunt, I have nothing moresuitable to wear than this I have on," glancing down at the blue blacksilk she had been wearing all that day.
"What matter? that's neat fitting and handsome enough for anyoccasion," interrupted Mr. Dinsmore.
"It will do very well, if you don't throw back your shawl," remarkedhis wife, glancing askance at the really neat, ladylike and prettydress.
"The place will be crowded and warm," said Mr. Dinsmore, "and if youfind your shawl burdensome, Mildred, you are to throw it back and becomfortable." His wife gave him an indignant glance.
"She can take a fan," she said shortly, "I'll lend her one that I'llnot be ashamed to see her carry."
Mildred was glad she could say she had a pretty fan of her own, andwould not need to borrow, and with it said she would doubtless beable to refrain from throwing back her shawl in a way to e
xhibit theunfashionable make of her dress.
Mrs. Dinsmore graciously condescended to approve of the purchases madeby her husband and the governess, saying she really thought she hardlycould have done better herself, and it was an immense relief to knowthat the thing was done without any worry or responsibility coming uponher, she was so ill able to bear such things.
On hearing which, our heroine felt unspeakably thankful that herassistance had not been asked.
Mildred enjoyed the concert extremely; also the sight-seeing, whichwith a little more shopping fully occupied the next two days, and thechurch-going of the day following. She found time before breakfastSaturday morning, for doing her packing and finishing the letter toher mother. On Monday morning there was little time for anything butbreakfast before they must go on board the steamer which was to carrythem to a seaport town within a few miles of Roselands.
Mildred at Roselands Page 5